104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB3997
 
Introduced 2/6/2026, by Sen. Jason Plummer
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
20 ILCS 5/5-735 new
50 ILCS 345/1
50 ILCS 345/40 new
815 ILCS 505/MMMM new
    Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that a State agency shall accept cash when offered as payment for any transaction totaling $500 or less. Prohibits a State agency from charging a person making a cash payment a higher price compared to the price charged to a person not paying with cash. Amends the Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards and Cash Act. Provides that a unit of local government shall accept cash when offered as payment for any transaction totaling $500 or less. Prohibits a unit of local government from charging a person making a cash payment a higher price compared to the price charged to a person not paying with cash. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that a person selling or offering for sale goods or services at retail shall: (1) accept cash when offered by a buyer as payment for any debt, purchase, or transaction totaling $500 or less; (2) provide at least one point-of-sale station, either automated or operated by a person, that allows a buyer to pay using cash as payment; and (3) not charge a person making a cash payment a higher price compared to the price charged to a person not paying with cash. Sets forth exceptions to the provision. Provides that a violation of the provision is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.


LRB104 20028 SPS 33479 b

 
 
A BILL FOR
 
SB3997LRB104 20028 SPS 33479 b

1    AN ACT concerning business.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is 
5amended by adding Sections 5-735 and 40 as follows:
 
6    (20 ILCS 5/5-735 new)
7    Sec. 5-735. State agencies prohibited from refusing cash 
8payments.
9    (a) As used in this Section, "cash" means the coin and 
10paper money of the United States.
11    (b) A State agency shall accept cash when offered as 
12payment for any debt, purchase, or transaction totaling $500 
13or less. A State agency shall not charge a person making a cash 
14payment a higher price compared to the price charged to a 
15person not paying with cash.
16    (c) This Section does not apply to a transaction conducted 
17by mail, telephone, or Internet.
 
18    Section 10. The Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit 
19Cards Act is amended by changing Section 1 and by adding 
20Section 40 as follows:
 
21    (50 ILCS 345/1)
 
 
SB3997- 2 -LRB104 20028 SPS 33479 b

1    Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local 
2Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards and Cash Act.
3(Source: P.A. 90-518, eff. 8-22-97.)
 
4    (50 ILCS 345/40 new)
5    Sec. 40. Units of local government prohibited from 
6refusing cash payments.
7    (a) As used in this Section, "cash" means the coin and 
8paper money of the United States.
9    (b) A unit of local government shall accept cash when 
10offered as payment for any debt, purchase, or transaction 
11totaling $500 or less. A unit of local government shall not 
12charge a person making a cash payment a higher price compared 
13to the price charged to a person not paying with cash.
14    (c) This Section does not apply to a transaction conducted 
15by mail, telephone, or Internet.
 
16    Section 15. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business 
17Practices Act is amended by adding Section MMMM as follows:
 
18    (815 ILCS 505/MMMM new)
19    Sec. MMMM. Retail businesses prohibited from refusing cash 
20payments.
21    (a) As used in this Section, "cash" means the coin and 
22paper money of the United States.
23    (b) A person selling or offering for sale goods or 
 
 
SB3997- 3 -LRB104 20028 SPS 33479 b

1services at retail shall:
2        (1) accept cash when offered by a buyer as payment for 
3    any debt, purchase, or transaction totaling $500 or less;
4        (2) provide at least one point-of-sale station, either 
5    automated or operated by a person, that allows a buyer to 
6    pay using cash as payment; and
7        (3) not charge a person making a cash payment a higher 
8    price compared to the price charged to a person not paying 
9    with cash. 
10    (c) This Section does not apply to a transaction conducted 
11by mail, telephone, or Internet.
12    (d) This Section does not apply to a person selling goods 
13or services at an airport. 
14    (e) Any person who violates this Section commits an 
15unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.